Mac OS X: App launcher and file utility Alfred updated to include a host of new shortcut and synchronization features that bring it on par with the not-quite-dead Quicksilver, not to mention blinding speed.

We've been diehard fans of Quicksilver forever, but with its development slowed down (but not dead), previously mentioned Alfred has picked up quite a following, and we can see why. The free version is a pretty barebones application launcher, but it's fast. Really fast. Cough up $20 for the Power Pack and you've got some really great advanced features like file system navigation, an iTunes mini player, clipboad manager, address book integration, and as of the latest update, global hotkeys and full synchronization of all your preferences between Macs. And, the app is in very active development, with even more features planned for the near future, like integration with web services and other popular 3rd party apps.

All in all, this is a really good app—one that's finally on the same level as, if not ready to surpass, Quicksilver. If you're just looking for a simple app launcher, we highly recommend grabbing the free version of Alfred. If you want those advanced features, you have a choice—Alfred only has a few things that Quicksilver doesn't, but it's also insanely fast, and is more likely to be heavily developed as time goes on. If that's worth $20 to you, then go for it. If not, Quicksilver can still offer most of those advanced features for free, albeit with less polish and a bit less of a promising future.

Alfred is a free download for Mac OS X, with a $20 "Power Pack" available that adds extra features. Check out the video above to see a demo of the newest features, and hit the link below (or head to its entry in the Mac App Store) to try it out.